After a brutal start to the season, the Warriors were in dire need of a win Sunday against the Chicago Bulls. Thanks to Damion Lee's game-winning 3-point shot, they got it.
Golden State has played just three games, but have faced serious problems already with their outside shooting. Both Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre Jr. have slumped early from beyond the arc, with Oubre shooting a remarkable 0-of-17 from downtown. The team also lost center Marquese Chriss just two games into the year. Chriss broke his leg during a scrimmage and will be out for the remainder of the season.
Still, despite back-to-back blowouts courtesy of the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks, optimism remains for the Warriors. Draymond Green has missed all three games with a foot injury, and the team will likely get both a defensive and morale boost when he returns. After missing the majority of the 2019-2020 season, Steph Curry has started to settle in and find his shot. Lastly, rookie James Wiseman has had quite the impressive NBA debut, and remains the Warriors best storyline so far.
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Here's where experts have the Warriors slated in various power rankings.
Nick Friedell, ESPN
Golden State Warriors
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Ranking: 24
Friedell: "Stephen Curry is going to get rolling after a slow start, as evidenced by his 36 points on Sunday, but it's Kelly Oubre Jr.'s shooting that is concerning for the Warriors. He is now 0-for-17 from behind the arc to start the year and continues to look uncomfortable as he tries to acclimate to Steve Kerr's system."
Kevin O'Connor, The Ringer
Ranking: 14
O'Connor: "I retain hope that this team can make the playoffs in the West if their role players start hitting shots at their normal percentages, Green stays healthy, and Wiseman keeps doing what he’s been doing early on."
John Schuhmann, NBA.com
Ranking: 26
Schuhmann: "Even with Draymond Green’s playmaking on the floor, it seems much of the Warriors’ success will come down to the open shots taken by their high-priced wings."
Mo Dakhil, Bleacher Report
Ranking: 23
Dakhil: "Draymond Green’s return should help stabilize things, but there is only so much he can cover."
RELATED: Why Oubre's early shooting struggles don't shock Kerr
Colin Ward-Henninger, CBS Sports
Ranking: 27
Ward-Henninger: "After losing their first two games by the second-largest combined margin in NBA history, the Warriors finally picked up their first win Sunday on Damion Lee's game-winning 3-pointer, and they celebrated like they had just won the NBA title. Draw your own conclusions there."